Serendipity / صدفه

20

Butti was sitting in the lobby waiting for the ladies to finish dressing up. Women just take too long to get ready. Its never ever five minutes as they say. He was staring at the bottom of his cup of tea as a whirlpool of thoughts started in his brain. He remembered the agonizing feeling of his blood boiling under his skin as Nouf's hands were wrapped in Nathan's hands. He remembered how he stood there paralyzed saying nothing as his blood boiled away. What am i to her? he thought to himself. What is it to me? I've known her for such a short time, i don't even know her well. Could I? The memory of her being concerned about the opinion of Fares passed by but he discarded it immediately. Not again will Fares ruin something for him. Not this, he thought.

His stream of thoughts was broken off by the voices of his aunts and mother coming down the stairs.
"5 minutes exactly." He said sarcastically looking at his watch."You should get used it by now habeeby" replied his mom, "Where are the girls?"
"They're still up"
"Better" said Um Fares, "Fares wain?" .. Butti just shrugged.
"Butti, we will leave with you and the girls then Fares and Nouf will follow" continued Um Fares excitedly at her plan. She didn't need to explain, her plan was written all over the happy wrinkles around her eyes and smile, "She's a nice girl, isn't she?"

Butti's face fell and went pale. He smiled faintly as a polite reply to his aunt. The irony of his thoughts a while ago made him laugh. Its happening... Again. He shook his head as he felt tiny daggers poking his heart from every side. A very alienated feeling. Somehow, he saw it coming. He felt stupid for allowing this to happen to him. She likes him; he thought as he remembered her ear-to-ear smile when she was standing beside Fares in the airport. He was always defensive about himself not allowing anyone to get so close to his heart. He cared about no one so much other than his mom, aunts and Haifa his sister. They were the only females in his life. But Nouf was something, she managed to become part of his life in a span of a week. Friends; he tested the word in his mind. Friends, he assured himself.

"Butti," Said his mother softly taking him away from his thoughts, "what's wrong?"
His mother at that moment realized what was happening, "what's your opinion on the matter?" she added to trigger him to talk. She knows her son well. He will give up what he wants for the happiness of others. He always did.
"They shouldn't be all alone, let Fares take the girls and i'll take you. I'll call him" he answered casually taking out his phone to inform Fares of the plan.